Although your cat may be your favorite Friday night cuddle buddy and the best listener in the house, our furry friends aren’t always easy to live with. Zoomies at two in the morning, scuffs on brand-new furniture, and no matter how many lint rollers we use, the hair just won’t stop. Most of the time, these are all minor difficulties that we come to terms with. After all, caring for our feline friends is well worth it.
However, that doesn’t mean we aren’t open to novel ideas that would make life with a cat easier and less stressful. To best care for cats and maintain harmony in every cat-friendly home, cat lovers from all over the world have banded together to share advice and tricks. Here is a list of some of our favorite cat owner life hacks, covering everything from how to keep your indoor plants safe to how to get your cat to sleep in.
1. Utilize kitchen items to reduce litter box odors
Finding cat litter with an all-odor-eliminating claim is simple. The question of whether they actually function is another matter. The solution to litter box odors may be closer than you think if you’re having trouble finding an affordable and practical solution. Cat-related odors can be effectively treated with a few common cooking ingredients. To keep the area smelling good, try sprinkling loose leaf green tea or baking soda in the bottom of the litter pan. These common household items help absorb moisture and odors while also helping to keep the litter pan free of bacteria and other microbes. Additionally, a spray bottle filled with white vinegar and water can be used to help clean any urine stains that might remain after cleaning the litter pan.
2. Invest in a pheromone diffuser
Cats rely heavily on their sense of smell. Certain scents have the power to either calm or agitate a cat. The beauty of a pheromone diffuser is that it releases synthetic chemicals that are similar to a cat’s natural pheromones. It’s a great way to calm a nervous cat or help soothe a cat going through a difficult transition.
Pheromone diffusers, which can be used both in the home and car, offer an effective way to reduce stress in cats by providing a calming scent that mimics a cat’s own natural pheromones. Pheromone diffusers are an ideal way to reduce stress in cats and help them feel more comfortable in their environment. Pheromone diffusers are a safe, easy, and affordable way to help cats cope with stress-related behavior. Pheromone diffusers are particularly effective when a cat is in a new home or if they are dealing with other changes, such as a new pet or family member in the home.
3. Give your cat a bell
For outdoor cats, bells are advised so that birds and other animals that serve as prey can be warned when the cat is getting close. If you want to keep better track of your indoor cat’s entrances and exits, you can also use a bell. But keep in mind to use a breakaway collar at all times to prevent it from getting caught and hurting your cat. You can find the best cat bells at your neighborhood pet store or online. They come in a variety of sizes and designs.
There are numerous choices for materials and shapes of bells if you’re having trouble deciding on the right one. Finding a bell that is small enough to avoid getting caught on anything and loud enough to be heard may be a good idea, depending on the size and breed of your cat. You might want to think about bells made of plastic or metal. If you’re searching for something a little more fashionable, there are also numerous designs with patterns and colors that can fit your pet’s unique personality. In the end, you and your cat will decide on the bell.
4. Use household items to create your own cat scratcher
They are not inexpensive, though. Your furniture will be protected by a good cat scratcher. You can avoid this by making use of items you already have around the house. An old welcome mat and twine wrapped around the plywood both make good scratching surfaces. If you don’t have anything suitable, obtain a free carpet sample and fasten it to a wooden board. As an alternative, if you want to be a little more inventive, try making your own custom scratching post out of old clothes and sheets.
The main objective is to create a post that is sturdy and tall so that your cat can stretch out and scratch, which will keep their nails healthy. Additionally, check that the post is sufficiently large and tall to provide your cat with plenty of room for stretching and scratching.
5. Remove cat hair from your couch using a rubber glove
Rub your hairy couch with a fresh pair of rubber gloves (the kind you use for kitchen cleaning). The ease with which all that fur can be loosened and collected will surprise you. Once it’s all neatly piled up, vacuum it to make your couch clean. The rubber gloves create a static-electricity effect that helps grab onto the cat hair, making it easy to gather and remove. When you’re done vacuuming, don’t forget to give the couch one last rubdown with a cloth and some furniture polish.
6. Keep dry cat food in plastic cereal bowls or pitchers
If you leave your cat’s food in the opened bag, there’s a chance that it will go bad. Not to mention that it is annoying to reach your hand into the bag’s bottom to scoop out the appropriate quantity of food. The solution to both issues is a plastic pitcher or cereal container. Simply pour food into a bowl or measuring cup to preserve freshness. Using an automatic cat feeder is an excellent alternative.
7. Use a shallow plate when serving cat food to prevent speed eating
Some cats are so giddy during mealtimes that they eat everything as quickly as they can before throwing it up. This is obviously bad for the health of your cat and your floors. Your cat will be forced to eat more slowly, and their food will stay where it belongs if you serve them on a shallow plate rather than a bowl.
8. Before going to bed, play with your cat
Make sure your pet alarm clock is sound asleep before you go to bed if you occasionally wish it would let you sleep in. To give your cat a chance to burn off all that energy, play with them for at least 15 minutes right before bed. I’m hoping it’ll give them a good night’s sleep and give you some extra shut-eye.
9. Wrap up your furniture with twine
Some cats can’t help but scratch the furniture, even when there is a designated scratching area. Wrap the legs of your wooden furniture in twine to protect them.
10. Put a box on your desk to distract your cat
When you have a tight deadline, curious cats enjoy sitting on the keyboard and leaning against the computer monitor. Your secret to actually accomplishing tasks while having a cat in the house may be a strategically placed box.